23 February 2015

Israeli Naval forces continued to carry out attacks on Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip during the reporting period[1] (01 – 31 December 2014), including 13 shooting incidents that resulted in the injury of 2 fishermen; destroying a fishing boat and other fishing equipment; a chasing incident that led to the arrest of 12 fishermen; nd confiscation of 6 fishing boats and a fishing net belonging to Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

The total of Israeli attacks against fishermen in the Gaza Strip in 2014 amounted to 236, including 150 shooting incidents that resulted the injury of 11 fishermen; destroying 14 fishing boats and nets; and 17 chasing incidents that led to the arrest of 51 fishermen and confiscation of 25 fishing boats and other fishing equipment.

The latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip (07 July- 26 August 2014) aggregated the suffering of Palestinian fishermen and resulted in heavy losses as Israeli forces directly targeted the fishing sector resulting in heavy losses in the seaports and fishing equipment, especially in Gaza Seaport which was directly targeted by the Israeli warplanes.  The attack on Gaza Seaport burnt and destroyed 8 fishing boats and caused severe damage to 2 fishing boats and many fishing boat engines in addition to other fishing equipment due to destroying 36 rooms in the Gaza Seaport.  The direct targeting by the israeli gunboats led to the destruction and damage of 20 fishing boats in the northern Gaza
Seaport, 30 fishing boats in the Central seaport, 3 rooms used for storing fishing equipment and complete destruction of 8 fishing boats in Khan Younis seaport, and partial damage to 10 fishing boats and destruction of the fish market and 4 fishing boats in Rafah Seaport.

Due to the Israeli military operation, around 3800 Palestinian fishermen were denied access to the sea and practicing their fishing career during the Israeli 50-day offensive on the Gaza Strip.  As a result, their living conditions were negatively affected.  The financial losses resulted from the ban imposed on the sea and not allowing fishermen to sail or practice their fishing career during the offensive are around 3 million dollars.  The amount of fish expected to be caught is around 300-400 tons despite the tightened restrictions imposed on the fishermen’s work in Gaza Sea.

The Israeli naval forces did not comply with the ceasefire agreement concluded between Israel and Palestinian armed groups under Egyptian auspices on 26 August 2014.  This agreement includes allowing Palestinian fishermen to sail within 6 nautical miles in the Gaza Sea.  According to PCHR’s investigations, all attacks took place within the distance of 6 nautical miles, which proves that Israeli forces’ policies aim to tighten restrictions on the Gaza Strip’s fishermen and their livelihoods.

Violations of the International Humanitarian
and Human Rights Law

Israel’s attacks against Palestinian fishermen, who do not pose any threat to Israeli soldiers, in the Gaza Strip constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, relevant to the protection of the civilian population and respect for its rights, including every person’s right to work, and the right to life, liberty and security of person, as codified in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), despite the fact that Israel is a State Party to the Covenant.  Furthermore, these attacks occurred in a time where the fishers did not pose any threat to the Israeli naval troops, as they were doing their job to secure a living.  Israeli violations in the reporting period were as follows:

First: Shooting Incidents

During the reporting period, PCHR documented 13 cases in which Israeli forces fired at Palestinian fishermen in the sea off the Gaza Strip shore.  As a result, 2 fishermen were injured.

– At approximately 09:30 on 03 December 2014, Israeli gunboats stationed off Gaza Seaport opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.  As a result, Nizar ‘Emad al-Sayed Abu al-Ryalah (25) was hit by a bullet to the right ear and then taken to Shifa Hospital.  Medical sources at
the hospital described his injury as moderate.  It should be mentioned that Abu Ryalah was with 3 other fishermen on a fishing boat sailing within 5 nautical miles.

– At approximately 10:00 on 13 December 2014, Israeli gunboats stationed off Rafah Seaport in the southern Gaza Strip opened fire in the vicinity of the Palestinian fishing boats.  As a result, ‘Ali Samir al-Bardawil (25) was injured.

Second: Arrest of Fishermen:

PCHR documented incidents in which Israeli naval forces arrested and chased 12 fishermen while they were sailing within about 2-3 nautical miles off northern Gaza and Gaza City shore.

– At approximately 18:30 on 06 December 2014, Israeli gunboats stationed off northwest of al-Waha shore, northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 2-3 miles and then surrounded 5 fishing boats boarded by
12 Palestinian fishermen.  Israeli forces arrested all fishermen and took them to an unknown destination.  They also confiscated the five boats and fishing nets.  The fishermen, were identified as: Safwat ‘Abdel Malek Hasan al-Sultan (30) and Sa’ed Ziyad Mahmoud Zayed (32); both from al-Salatin neighborhood, who were on a boat belonging to Fahmi Mahmoud Mohammed Zayed; Mahmoud Mohammed Mohammed Zayed (29) and his brother Ahmed (30), from al-Salatin neighborhood; Mohammed Amin Rushdi Abu Wardeh (22) and his brother Yousif (19); from al-Salatin neighborhood; Belal Abu ‘Odah (23), Mahmoud Naser Mahfouz (23), Sofian Mahfouz (25), Yaser ‘Othman Meqdad (26), his brother Adham (27), and Bahaa’ al-Deen al-Najjar (22); all of them from al-Shati’ refugee camp, west of Gaza City.  All fishermen were released next day.

Third: Confiscation of Fishing Boats

During the reporting period, PCHR documented chasing incidents and confiscation of 7 fishing boats and other fishing equipment (pieces of fishing nets).

– On 06 December 2014, Israeli gunboats stationed in the northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats and surrounded five fishing boats boarded by 12 fishermen.  The Israeli naval soldiers arrested all fishermen and took them to an unknown destination in addition to confiscating 5 boats and damaging many pieces of net.

– On 26 December 2014, Israeli naval forces confiscated a fishing boat belonging to Mohammed Ziyad Jarbou’a while sailing within 4 nautical miles off al-Sudaniyah shore, north of Gaza.  It should be mentioned that the fishing boat was used for lightening in the sardines’ season.

Forth: Damaging Fishing Equipment

– On 11 December 2014, Israeli gunboats stationed off Gaza shore opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.  As a result, the structure and engine of the fishing boat were damaged as well as a piece of net belonging to ‘Omer Ibrahim al-Habil.

– At approximately 23:00 on 23 October 2014, Israeli gunboats opened fire at a Palestinian fishing boat sailing 1 nautical miles off Rafah shore, in the southern Gaza Strip. As a result, the boat which belongs to baker family was completely burnt.

   Table of Israeli
Attacks on Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza City in December 2014